in the 1%

Did you know that if you have ran a marathon you are among the 1%. I guess that's kind of a big deal.

Well D is officially part of the 1%.

He survived and so did we.

first stop - drake

a bit crazy

water works park

hanging out with uncle r and aunt e and b&q

making his way to the finish

Official time: 3 hours 35 minutes and I think 4 or 7 seconds

We made it to three different spots along the course and it was fun to see him running each time.

Of course, my cheerleaders were a little crazy but enjoyed the tidbits of movie they got in the van between stops.

If I told them to cheer they would just yell. "Go Dad!" Go Dad! Even if they didn't see him. A little annoying but sweet. Who wouldn't love these guys.

Thankful Thursday

Wow.

Does it feel like way colder than fall outside?

My vote yes.

I love to be bundled. But brrr. Its chilly.

Don't get me wrong we are still getting outside. In fact, I even pryed my body out of bed to jog this am. A tough one for me as I am a slipper wearing snuggler in the morning.

But as we gear up for holidays and it just seems to get busier, I have to be reminded to stop. think. listen. enjoy. love. the little things

1. listening to the missed sermon so so easy - new website fantastics
2. hearing shadd read
3. laughing with my husband
4. simple new found things like spotify (oh technology)
5. my kiddos imaginations - today we were planting a garden in the sandbox
6. ells lack of energy at specific times like cleaning up or biking
7. the new house going up next door - (love the privacy not so much the framing crew)
8. great sleepers - see number 7 still napping thankfully
9. visit from friends
10. date day, can't wait.
11. d successful marathon - so proud of him
12. sages snuggles
13. slower days to just sit and play and enjoy my kids
14. slippers and hot chocolate
15. we found our traveling mouse (the wireless one that goes to our computer...kind of essential to do just about anything on it).
16. a fun fellowship night with ladies from church
17. crunchy leaves on the ground
18. beauty pre sunrise
19. the Jesus storybook bible - each story brings me to tears. Love it.

Take a moment to step outside (bundle up first) and breath the fresh air. It will fill your soul!

We Heart the Dutch

For many reasons...WE love the Dutch. 

Some more obvious than others. But if you can't find us on a Saturday (we are probably there watching a game or at least listening to it)

Side note: Why don't schools make one single decently cute girls shirt? Crazy. Missing a big market!

Patch's Pumpkins

When we moved I was a little bummed to be oh so far away from one of our favorite orchards to play. Don't get me wrong we still travel the hour back each year but its nothing like having the season pass and frequenting the place.

This year was just a little less hectic with no house building so we had a free saturday morning so we lovingly talked d into taking us.

Only a few miles from our house - love me a good pumpkin patch

We had a blast. It was still early and pretty quiet so we rode the cow train, jumped on all the inflatables, raced ducks, and pet the animals.

 Then we went on to the corn maze. It had rained the night before so we trudged through the mud but found all 8 checkpoints. Sage was a bit annoyed with the mud on his shoes. Think it was kinda weighing him down.

Then on to search for the perfect pumpkin. D's is big. Mine is light yellow. Odd just like I love them. And the other three well they are cute just like them.

And of course we had to buy kettle corn. YUM!

One day

One day I want to remember my life right now as this...

Why?
I have one more year with Shaddy at home
Ells is always goofing around
Sage loves sunglasses

Shadd always prefers that big wheel over his bike
Ells is almost always donning a skirt or costume
Sage thinks he is way bigger than he is

These moments and years go fast. Try oh try to savor them.

Apples, apples, apples

It is a great year for apples. At least at my grandparents it is. You should see their trees. They are just heaping with yummy delicious apples.

Well you know what that means. Picking. Peeling. Baging. Freezing. And of course Eating!

Of course, I have the best help around.

Just one of a few tubs we picked, plus a few buckets.

Lucky for us, we have the best grandma and great in the world. She picked and played (and even grandpa swung into say hello amidst harvest). She even had apple already prepared for dessert. It was delicious. She was and is definitely a farmers wife. Love you grandma and grandpa. Blessed to call you mine! My kiddos are lucky to call you theirs too. 

Thankfully my mom has this wonderful contraption to peel, slice, and core those apples. AMAZING. Plus I have this dude. Loves a good challenge. He even shares his daddy's crazy tongue under deep concentration and high competition. 

We have frozen quite a few bags of apples, made a crockpot of really great homemade applesauce, and have a few more to peel in the next few days. 

One of the true joys of embracing the season. Love us some fall.

My three play

I absolutely love it when my three play together.

Once school starts it gets a little more quiet on our block. So we headed outside to play in the kitchen in the fort. Sometimes I have to get them started, but other times they are well into pretend play.

Of course, we rarely all squeeze around this thing without fighting but i caught a glimpse of what it would look like.

And who doesn't like racing the deck. Oh brothers. Plus timing laps around the house. Shadd is a great exercise coach. He suggested lunges up the hill in our backyard 5 times. I was really hoping for twice and definitely not 5. Never wanting to crumble I sucked it up and completed the five and hardly could walk the next day. Trainer in our midst?

Our newest craze. The teenage mutant ninja turtles. Yesterday Ells was calling people on the phone as reporter April Oneil. Plus they were decked out with swords and other ninja gear. Oh dear. The theme songs randomly plays in my head so I wonder about my sanity most of the time. Nothing like flash back 20 years or anything.